Franklin officially released by Packers

GREEN BAY--The Green bay Packers have officially released Johnathan Franklin Friday afternoon, after discovering a neck injury was too severe for him to play.

Franklin, a fourth-round pick from UCLA in 2013, hurt his neck during week 12 of his rookie season against Minnesota.

\"It’s never easy releasing a player, but it's especially difficult when a young man's opportunity is taken away from him because of an injury,” Packers general manager Ted Thompson said. \"The Packers are fortunate to have had the chance to work with him and we know that he will excel in whatever the future holds for him. He will always be a member of the Packers family.”